Improvement in tools for working in leather



J. S. ALEXANDER.

Toois for Working in Leather.

N0; 140,336. Patentedjuly1,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOOLS FOR WORKING IN LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,336, dated J nly 1, 1873; application filLd March 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. ALEXANDER, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Tool for Working in Leather; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved tool, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the concave side of the bit.

In working with leather separate tools are required for cutting and for making holes. No inconvenience is felt on this account by the saddler, shoeand belt makers, and other workers in leather, for they are always provided with such tools, and use them generally under circumstances attended with no inconvenience.

But the farmer, mechanic, and others using' the articles made by such operators, are in need of a light, cheap, portable tool, combining in itself the important or necessary tools used in working with leather, so as to enable them to alter or repair leather articles. In some circumstances it is very inconvenient to be hampered with a number of tools. This is especially the case with the mechanic when holes of various sizes, and also of such a bit,

combined in a single tool with a knife, and if desired, an awl.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and manner of use.

The bit a tapers longitudinally, and is of concavo-convex form in cross-section. It is provided with two sharp cutting-edges, c, which extend from its point 12 to its butt end d. The point b is sharp so as to penetrate the leather. This bit is designed for cutting holes of various sizes. The point I) is caused to penetrate the leather, and the bit pushed through until it is of sufficient width to equal the diameter of the hole to be made. Then it is turned around or rotated, so that the edges 0 shall cutout the leather and formthe hole. Then, as the front side of the hole thus made is wider than the back side, the bit is inserted into the hole at the rear side, and the whole made regular and even. Back of the bit a is a knife, e, having a sharp cuttingedge, e, the other edge being blunt, as in ordinary knives. This tool is furnished with a handle, f, at the rear end of which, there is an awl g, either sharp or blunt, as may be desired. This tool entirely takes the place of the tools recited as necessary in mending belts, as herein described. The holes may be cut by the bit afand thus dispense with the block, punch, and mallet, and there is no need of a separate knife or awl, so that the operator is not hampered with many tools, and therefore free to work more efiectively and quickly.

In other operations this tool is equally useful, while the cheapness with which it can be made puts it within the reach of all.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A combined tool, consisting of a bit, a, and knife e, fitted with a handle, f, having an awl, g, the whole combined and arranged substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES SI ALEXANDER, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES S. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

W. N. PAXTON, Tnos. B. KERR. 

